What Is A Dental Night Guard To Treat TMJ Condition?

When you went in for your most recent dental appointment, your dentist might have mentioned that you might need dental night guard. Now, you might be wondering what a dental night guard or dental sleep guard is and why you might need one. This is a basic guide to help.

What is a Dental Night Guard?

If you have never worn or even seen a night guard for teeth from dentist, you might not really know or understand what it is. Basically, a night guard for teeth from dentist is something that you wear each night while you’re sleeping. It’s designed to help you protect your teeth from the grinding that you might do in your sleep. Many people don’t know that they grind their teeth at night until they start seeing problems from the behavior, but a night guard for teeth from dentist can help with this problem.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the clinical term for teeth grinding. It’s a very common problem, so you should not feel embarrassed if you have it. However, you should not ignore the problem if you have bruxism; instead, you should seek help from your dentist, such as by using a night guard for teeth from dentist to help protect your teeth and stop the behavior.

What Kind of Problems Can Occur Without a Dental Sleep Guard?

If you’re wondering why a night guard for teeth clenching might be needed, you must first understand the problems that can occur if you grind and clench your teeth but don’t protect them with a night guard for teeth from dentist.

First of all, many people damage their teeth when they grind them at night. At first, you might just notice that your teeth appear to be flatter than usual. You may also notice that your teeth become chipped or cracked from the grinding. This can lead to dental pain and expensive dental bills, and it can be easily prevented with a teeth bite guard that you wear each night when you’re sleeping.

Of course, damage to your teeth is not the only thing that can be caused by bruxism. TMJ can be caused by bruxism and is a serious problem itself. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, which is also known as TMJ or TMJ syndrome, can be caused by grinding your teeth. It is a very painful condition that causes pain in your jaw and the surrounding muscles. Along with causing pain, it can also restrict movement of your jaw.

Even if you don’t damage your teeth or suffer from TMJ because of bruxism, a dental night guard might still help you. A night guard for teeth clenching and grinding can also help prevent headaches, facial pain and other issues that many people suffer from when they have bruxism but don’t wear a dental night guard.

Are There Other Treatment Options You Can Try?

Wearing a night guard for teeth clenching is one of the most popular, affordable and effective treatment options for people who have bruxism. However, it definitely is not your only option, so you can talk to your dentist about your different options and which ones might be right for you. Your dentist might decide that a teeth guard is your best choice, or he or she might help you select an alternative treatment. Some dentists recommend that their patients wear a night guard for teeth while also using other treatments.

Other treatment options vary. If your teeth are improperly aligned, then orthodontics might be suggested. Braces, for example, may help you stop grinding your teeth and can help you improve both the look and health of your teeth. Sometimes, making small changes to your lifestyle can help. For example, if you consume a lot of caffeine — particularly if you do so in the evenings before you go to bed — discontinuing or limiting your use of caffeine can make a difference. Some people grind their teeth at night because of stress, so working on reducing stress in your life might make a difference as well.

If you are thinking about using a teeth bite guard that you buy yourself as a treatment option, though, you may want to think again. Even though you can purchase a cheaper teeth bite guard on your own, a custom dental night guard is probably a better choice. A custom dental night guard will help with protecting your teeth better, for one thing. Plus, since it’s made for your needs, you will not have to worry about it not fitting properly and being uncomfortable. A custom dental night guard probably will cost you a little more, but the price difference between a custom dental night guard and one that you purchase on your own might not be as significant as you think. Once you see the better results that you can enjoy from a custom dental night guard, you’ll probably also understand why they are generally recommended by dentists.

Signs You Might Need a Dental Sleep Guard

If your dentist has not yet recommended a dental night guard for you, you could be wondering if you need one. These are a few signs that you may need to wear a custom dental night guard.

Some of your teeth are chipped, and you don’t know why

Your teeth are flat

You’re dealing with more teeth sensitivity than usual

You have sore jaw muscles when you wake up in the morning

You deal with regular neck or facial pain, particularly in the morning

If any of the things listed above sound familiar to you, then it might be time for you to try a toothguard to protect your teeth. Even though you can find these products online, you may want to find out about a night guard for teeth from dentist to make sure you will be wearing a night guard that will fit well, protect your teeth properly and help you remain as comfortable as possible when you’re sleeping. Your dentist can tell you more about the benefits of a custom dental night guard and can help you determine if it’s the right choice for you.